No Frills Pug - Back up for sale Pg3

[wackywacerwill]

Following on from here

 

Purchased this beauty sans tax and test

 

I've fallen for it's basic nature and chod like qualities so jumped right in with bucket and sponge and fixed some of it's obvious faults though in time honoured style only those that can be fixed with what was to hand at the (limited) time.

 

Now looks like this only with a slightly smaller dent in the door as some pushed out with the palm of my hand without the need for removing the door card.

 

Chanced my hand at a test today and well, this pic tells the story from there.

 

Yep, that'll be a fail. My heart dropped and I'll admit in my despondence I had thoughts it could be for the frag. Sanity soon prevailed when I looked at fail sheet properly and then under the front of the car to see what was what. A stop at the factors on the way home sealed the deal and lightened the wallet to the tune of 60 odd quid for a pair of lower arms a rod end and washer pump. Gonna see if I can blag a space indoors tonight to get the job done, it's too cold for the kids to be running about down the back whilst I mess about with it so I'll wait till Mrs www gets home and get on it then.

Clonky clonk clonk from the front end gave the game away before the test really though putting it in means I know exactly what has to be done and can now confirm that the underside is solid rust wise too. CO is a little high but only a little so I'll look at the filter (maybe leave it out for the test ) and give it an Italian tune up on the way back to the centre, should be ok after that, hopefully.

[Volksy]

IIRC the track is controlled by the lower arms, so before you take them off mark up the thread to get them back in the same position.

[wackywacerwill]

IIRC the track is controlled by the lower arms, so before you take them off mark up the thread to get them back in the same position.

 

I was envisioning the being able to split from the ball joint on the arms without disturbing owt, you could well be right though. I'll have some tipex/spray paint handy for marking up and maybe some trusty string/mig wire for measuring though as I'll trying to get away without paying out to get it aligned. May have some planks long enough hanging about, surely it's possible to do it like that to a acceptable degree?

[Wilko220]

Sorry that luck was against you - but do keep us posted on progress...

So good to see it in the hands of someone who wants to see it survive!

[Lankytim]

I'm slowly coming round to the charms of these old 205's This example looks great, can't wait to see it MOT'd and happily smoking about!

 

Theres a semi-dead one near the inlaws house. I say semi-dead as its one of those cars that looks like its been laid up for 3 years on a drive and then you see it driving about. I'm tempted to ask about it before it fails its MOT or something and gets cubed.

[wackywacerwill]

I'm slowly coming round to the charms of these old 205's This example looks great, can't wait to see it MOT'd and happily smoking about!

 

Theres a semi-dead one near the inlaws house. I say semi-dead as its one of those cars that looks like its been laid up for 3 years on a drive and then you see it driving about. I'm tempted to ask about it before it fails its MOT or something and gets cubed.

 

Do it, they're gr18. Leaving a note has worked for me and many in the past, these french fancies are spurned by the majority so for that must be saved.

This ones none too shabby where it counts body wise, just looks a state to the common eye which obviously adds to it's appeal Added my own mark tonight by popping in the back quarter whilst bumping the back round to save the faff of back and forth manoeuvrey should pop out without a trace and I'll make good to the rest as and when. Decided to drive it out of the tight spot and had the front plate on a bike footpeg More selotape added for the fix.

 

Sorry that luck was against you - but do keep us posted on progress...

So good to see it in the hands of someone who wants to see it survive!

 

Sometimes lucks against you for a reason, driving ropey old motors on the regular means I'm maybe sometimes short sighted in their faults. The front arms needed doing as did the track rod end, now that it's done it drives like a new car (almost). Steering wheels a tad off set so may need to call in a favour for alinement, I'll keep an eye on the tread wear and get it sorted when I replace the other track rod end (should of bought two but spent the 6 quid in the offy on the way home)

 

Buggery screen washer still not working despite new pump, guessing a fault in the wiring or the switch on the stick unless it has a special fuse hiding somewhere? Might just run another switch direct of the battery as I hate playing with electrics. Anyone got any ideas?

[Felly Magic]

I would temporarily bodge in a new switch and sticker it up so Mr MOT man sees it. The switch & wiring should be fairly cheapola, and there is bound to be a blank somewhere on that dash you can mount it to. Fit an inline fuse too

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

Maybe I am stating the obvious, but have you made sure that it's not just a blocked hose/jet?

[eddyramrod]

The switch & wiring should be fairly cheapola, and there is bound to be a blank somewhere on that dash

 

Oh come on, any self-respecting Shiter will have a stock of old switches in assorted sizes and types, and miles of wire in 6"-18" sections! So, cheap? No, free!

[Felly Magic]

When I need that I just go and raid the FiL's stash. He came in very handy when I needed to bodge the front bumper after swmbo reshaped it!

[wackywacerwill]

Today the stay of execution was granted. The tester looked surprised to see it back and was satisfied with the work done. emissions were fine after blowing out the air filter and running some cleaner through the carb. He had no problem finding the bodgerama washer switch. A truely hideous and expensive (scrapped all my wire last week ) piece of work.

 

Sorted a ICE install too

 

Driven today on Mway, country lanes, dirt track and city. Sitting in the usual New cross traffic today so it showed me the red light of doom!!! Can't find owt wrong though so putting it down to dodgy lectriks, sure it will be fine

 

Oh, nearly punted a van this morn too. Gawd nose what possessed me to put 40 psi in those skinny front tyres. Really thought I was going to have him, needed the handbrake to pull it up barely a inch of the van bumper. Proper heart in mouth moment, good brakes though.

[Wilko220]

[Craig the Princess]

Sorted a ICE install too

 

I love that, do you need to turn it when you go round a bend so it faced the same way like my Dad used to in his Escort?

[dollywobbler]

Sorted a ICE install too

 

I love that, do you need to turn it when you go round a bend so it faced the same way like my Dad used to in his Escort?

 

Gawd. Reminds me of when I used to sit in my aunt's Escort van while she was making deliveries to garages. No ICE, so I had one of those portable radios. As you say, you had to keep it pointing the right way, and it'd chuck a fit every time you drove under power lines!

[wackywacerwill]

Update time

 

I've had more sucess of late with a mp3 player and portable speaker, much better/safer when driving solo though needsa more volume. Put about 300 miles on this in the last week and what I have been trying to deny has reared it's head in a unignorable way!

Suspected* OMG HGF!!! Had suspisions from the start what with the missing water though does'nt seem to be mixing at all and the kettle thing is only on a slow boil. Preasure in the coolant system builds up fairly rapid and a drain/flush/re bleed hasn't made it go away. Heater don't run to hot but has improved a fraction with the flushing.

Going to try the mirical PERNAMENT fix of K seal and hope for the best as funds are non existant for gasket set and cam belt that might as well be done at the same time. I'm sure it will be just fine and dandy with some magic copper particles in the mix Going to pick some up today and keep an close eye on it releiving the preasure as and when.

 

Who's done a TU head gaskit then? any tips or what to watch out for would be appreciated as it will be my first HG change on a car ever!

 

Pics will be added when I find my camera lead, looks a bit cleaner now inside and out as I can do that for free.

 

*Optimist edit

[Rod/b]

Sure it doesn't just need a new cap on the coolant tank?

[wackywacerwill]

Sure it doesn't just need a new cap on the coolant tank?

 

In short, No. It did cross my mind and it looks OK though I'm unsure on how to test it?

[ashmicro]

Shirley an HG on one of these must be piss easy (and cheap)? A whole headset can't even be that dear? I was just reading last night that upwards of 5 million 205's were made. Amazing. It shows just how good the car is. Unusually compact rear suspension means a flat floor, and careful thought was given to the front end to allow a good range of engines to be slotted in.

[wackywacerwill]

HG proper fix bolts an all is cheap as(assuming a straight head), just proper skint at the mo and would like to do the belt and tensioner too if the head's coming off.

 

Tested my resi cap with foot pump and it seems to blow through under pressure, maybe I've cleared a blockage and all is now fixed We live in *false hope.

 

*edit for reality, ran a mile or 2 and built pressure.

[wackywacerwill]

I was just reading last night that upwards of 5 million 205's were made. Amazing. It shows just how good the car is. Unusually compact rear suspension means a flat floor, and careful thought was given to the front end to allow a good range of engines to be slotted in.

 

Funny you say that. Since getting this one OTR I've noticed loads locally. Read somewhere the bottom bit is galv and many seem to survive the tin worm well, I've seen many a newer car with a crustier underbelly than this one. Paints come up near mint, if you ignore the war wounds on either side I'm sure I've seen a nice slide hammer set at a mates place recently, I'll give that a bash if I can lay me hands on it.

 

Autoshite Xmas tree haulage in effect

 

Paint has been treated to some wax since that pic and is now doing that thing where the water sits on it in blobs which always makes me smile.

 

In other news Kseal is GR17.5 for now...

[Wilko220]

Going to try the mirical PERNAMENT fix of K seal and hope for the best as funds are non existant for gasket set and cam belt that might as well be done at the same time.

edit

 

Happy to stand corrected if anyone knows better, but I believe this engine is chain driven - so no cambelt.

 

Looking ace by the way - I love the Xmas tree pic!

[ashmicro]

TU9 (C1A) is a belt, replace @ 48k or 5 years.

 

There were 6,193 variants of the 954, and some were indeed chain driven, but the one in this car is a belt.

 

MAHOOSIVE PICS INCOMING!!!!!

[ashmicro]

 

[wackywacerwill]

Breaking news... K seal is rubbish!!! Maybe that's a tad unfair as it worked for about 50 miles before my engine became a kettle. Out of necessity I've driven another 60 or so miles locally with a barrel of water in the back and cooling system bleeding tools to hand. The water was getting more frothy each time and if I'd of backed up to a shed it would've made a pretty decent sauna, time to bite the bullet.

 

Orf with his head, beat it for a while before seeing that 3rd downpipe bolt

 

That will be it then

 

Skankarama

 

Plenty of hardcore solvent abuse and stanley blade action later.

 

Good head, always a winner.

 

So far so good, took about 3 1/2 hours which was a pleasant surprise as being the first time I've done the HG on a car I thought it would be a complete mare. Many thanks for the belt pics, didn't change it in the end as belt and tensioner looked ok and I'm a skinflint. Used a 1/4 drive ratchet as the tensioning tool and just marked up the belt and dizzy with tipex and spray paint respectively, seems to have worked as it got me home with acceleration as good as ever

 

I may have modified in a way which is unpopular with many here, no doubt this will displease some though it's my car and I likes it so there.

Handles a dammed sight better when pushed into corners and not too harsh over bumps which is nice.

 

Looking forward to being able to drive further with confidence and save fuel money by not carrying gallons of water about in the boot. Today was a good car day.

[Wilko220]

This thread continues to bring more and more Christmas cheer. Ace work!

[Lankytim]

New HG! Yesssss!!!!!!!

 

That front end displeases me however.

[marcello-gandini]

Nice work! I have to replace the HG on a Xsara 1.4 at some point, it has a bit more gubbins but you've made the job look easy.

Lowering looks wank however.

[Felly Magic]

I'm with lankytim on that one. It's about time the spring chop was made illegal in my view

[wackywacerwill]

Didn't think the lowering would go down well here but I didn't do it to please anyone but myself and I'm happy that my pug is safe. Besides, it's a reversible mod as I can always mig the springs back together*

 

 

 

*No, really don't do this as it is bad and should be made illegal!

[M'coli]

I'm not against lowering,but I don't understand the trend for lowering something so far that you can't get a jack under it if a tyre punctures, or you have to slow down to avoid decking parts of the car out whilst pressing on - even some standard height cars fall short on this last point. I can't remember the number of times I smacked the Saab off the deck in places where the Cavalier would have been going 5-10 mph faster(but it is on standard springs, has the lightest engine and has Monroe Gasmatics)!